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Broadwater County commissioners approve Townsend K-12 fiscal 2026 budget
Summary
The Broadwater County Commission voted to approve the Townsend K-12 School District’s fiscal 2026 budget after a presentation from Superintendent Brad Rock outlining revenue sources, budget totals and targeted funds such as bus depreciation and adult education programming.
Broadwater County commissioners voted unanimously by voice to approve the Townsend K-12 School District fiscal 2026 budget after a presentation from Superintendent Brad Rock on the district’s revenue sources, spending priorities and enrollment-based formulas.
Brad Rock, superintendent of Townsend Schools, told commissioners that “by statute, the county commission has to approve our school district budget.” He said the district’s “bottom line is a little over $8,800,000, with the general fund of about $6,400,000,” and that those totals reflect a mix of state, local and federal revenue.
The presentation explained that school funding in Montana is driven in part by basic entitlement for elementary, middle and high schools and by ANB (average number belonging), a three-year enrollment average used to equalize funding across districts. Rock also described other restricted funds in the district budget: federal grants with targeted uses, a transportation fund that includes state, permissive levy and county components, a tuition fund with specific formulas, and a bus depreciation fund meant specifically for buying replacement buses.
Rock said the state is taking steps to support teacher pay, noting recent increases in ANB and the STARS Act, which expanded a quality educator payment for starting pay. He described teacher compensation as a function of state formulas, local revenue and the district’s collective bargaining outcomes.
Rock described an adult education CDL program run through the district’s adult ed fund as a local response to driver shortages. He said Rachel Brugge, the district’s adult ed coordinator, and Jeremy Rice assisted with the program; the class provided a pathway for community members to obtain commercial driver licenses and for some participants to be reimbursed if they drive for the school.
Commission discussion included questions about which funds pay teacher salaries (primarily the general fund), how targeted funds are restricted, and the state audit process for school districts. Rock noted that Montana requires annual audits of school districts to ensure restricted funds are used for their intended purposes.
A commissioner moved to approve the Townsend K-12 fiscal 2026 budget; another commissioner seconded. The commission approved the budget by voice vote. The county will keep the signed original as the official record.
Rock said residents with questions can contact the district through its website at townsend.k12.mt.us or via the district’s social media and app for schedules and additional information.
